LONDON (GBR): The inaugural Athletics World Cup received a mixed response from national media in the host country. Ben Bloom, writing for telegraph.co.uk, commented on the high excitement level and reception from the crowd, but criticised the overall standard. “With tickets costing up to £155 for prime seats on the home straight, the men’s triple jump should not be won in 16.74m and a time in excess of four minutes and seven seconds should not secure women’s 1500m gold. Next time, the world’s best must indeed be the world’s best,” writes the paper’s main athletics correspondent. “Schedule the event so it does not clash with any Diamond League meets. Bring kit manufacturers on board ahead of time to give them no reason to discourage their athletes from competing. Ramp up the team element with team-mates supporting on the infield.” Sean Ingle, his counterpart at guardian.co.uk also criticised the sparsity of big names but added: “Yet British Athletics would argue – with some justification – that filling more than half of the London Stadium on a Saturday when England’s footballers and cricketers were in action, as well as the Wimbledon women’s singles final, was a decent first stab.” He added in summary: “Reasonably entertaining, interesting format, quality and TV coverage leaving a lot to be desired.”
